Pint of Contention

King Family, Book 3

De: Susannah Nix

Narrado por: Chris Brinkley, Amanda Stribling

They’ve both got good reasons to fight falling in love, but they can’t resist the overpowering attraction pulling them together…

Maggie: Wicked Witch. Ballbuster. The Terminator. Those are just a few of the nicknames I’ve earned in my professional life. As the executive consultant King’s Creamery has brought in to save them from financial ruin, I have to decide which employees get the ax. I can’t afford to make friends or get chummy with my new neighbors.

Try telling that to the enormous, hunky fireman next door, who’s annoyingly determined to make friends with me. It’s not enough that the guy saves kittens from trees, tosses tree trunks around while wearing a kilt, and has a body that makes Thor look puny. He also works out shirtless in full view of my kitchen window. I might be secretly obsessed.

When a newspaper exposé turns the whole town against me, my hot fireman neighbor steps up to act as my protector, and my secret obsession threatens to turn into a case of serious feelings. But I can’t allow that to happen when I’m only here temporarily. I’ve got to keep my walls up to protect the heart everyone thinks I don’t have.

Ryan: My new neighbor might act like she wants nothing to do with me, but I’ve seen her watching me from her window. I can tell she likes what she sees, and I love pushing her buttons—a little too much. I’ve got no restraint when it comes to this woman.

Now I’m screwed, because I can’t get her out of my head. The more time I spend with Maggie, the more I suspect she might be the soulmate I’ve been waiting for all my life.

Of course I’d find her now when I can’t risk letting her get too close. If she does, she might discover the secret I’ve been keeping from everyone.

Soulmate or not, I’ve got to let her go. Even if it kills me.

Pint of Contention is the third audiobook in the King Family series, set in the small town of Crowder, Texas, home of the King’s Creamery ice cream company. Each audiobook is a stand-alone, full-length contemporary romance that follows one of the six King siblings as they find and fight for love.

©2022 Susannah Nix (P)2022 Susannah Nix

Fantastic story with great narration

Once again Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling do an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed reading the book but the audiobook brings a whole different experience. I really love Chris and Amanda’s portrayal of these characters and the voice they gave each of them. I binge read Pint of Contention because I needed to know what happened. I adored this enemies to lovers (one sided at first), hot fire fighter, badass business woman and next door neighbor wonderfulness!!! Maggie’s has a reputation and is laying low while in town to do her job. She is very direct, good at her job but has a wall up a mile high to keep people/relationships out. Ryan is a hot firefighter then enjoys working out in his garage, helping others but keeps a safe distance from his family’s business. The King family is something else and always has some type of drama going on. Ryan and Maggie do their best to stay out of it but papa King has mighty strong pull. I enjoyed this book so much - the banter, Ryan harassing Maggie, the angst/desire and fun these two have makes the book an easy read. The kitchen window scenes are some of my favorite!

Fun & Angsty Small-Town Romance

“My brain had rewritten the code for normal, and my old normal felt as alien as a distant, inhospitable planet.”

Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix is my favorite in the King’s Creamery series so far! From page one, my heart went out to Ryan. Maggie is a management consultant hired to streamline business operations at King’s Creamery. Ryan is reeling from ominous news he received years ago. Ryan is an enigma; he’s closed off to love, kind-hearted, fit firefighter. Ryan’s life of self-imposed solitude is disrupted by the beguiling, buttoned-up vixen next door. Maggie is accustomed to constant travel and keeping to herself while on a job. But can the ice queen resist the magnetism of the ginger tower of a man next door? Pint of Contention has the most emotional risk & payoff of the series so far. Ryan’s angst and Maggie’s stoic & sassy character drew me in. Their witty back and forth and endearing charm kept emotionally invested. King family dynamics continue to fall into place as get-togethers reveal more about each sibling. If you love a heartfelt, fake relationship, small-town romance, Pint of Contention is a must-listen.

Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling have outdone themselves in Pint of Contention. Chris gives an emotionally raw performance as he brings Ryan’s vulnerability and quiet suffering off the page. Amanda is fab as the staunch professional, smart-ass, beguiling Maggie. I always enjoy Susannah’s characters, but there was something special about the complexity of Ryan and Maggie. Chris and Amanda’s narrations brought these dynamic characters, and all the quirky side characters to life is such a charming way.

Maggie and Ryan

The narration on this was fantastic. These two narrators are so good. I really enjoyed this book. Not as much as the previous two in the series but this was still a good book. I just love the King family series. Ryan and Maggie are complete opposites but have one thing in common, both are not looking for a relationship. The two finally give in and they truly have amazing chemistry. Being that they are older and more set in their ways they have some personal challenges to overcome but soon find comfort in each other. This was a heartfelt read that touched on some serious topics. Overall good read.

I was sent a free audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Over 40 hot romance!

This is one of those hidden gems! A second chance at love relationship, and smokin hot to boot. Great read.

Ryan and Maggie!

A story with characters who are older?!?! Say less! I've been loving the King Creamery series so this one was right up my alley. While I have read the first two books in the series, each book can be read as a standalone. The author gives brief recaps of the secondary characters who have already been in previous books without feeling like their story is being retold. There are several offspring of George King whose stories need to be told.

Ryan McCafferty is George's step-son. He was lucky enough to escape having to work for the King himself and instead works as a firefighter. Ryan was surprised that George was in contact with his biological father as he hadn't heard from him in years. And the reasons why became evident. Learning of his father's passing also brought him some devastating news, news that made him severely allergic to long-term relationships and dating. It was getting increasingly harder and harder for Ryan to avoid Maggie Silvestri. She was his next door neighbor. But Maggie's profession kept her from getting too close to anyone lest they be somehow connected to the business that contracted her to make things run more efficiently. It was easier to be neutral if one was prickly and didn't make friends. Maggie's previous marriage and divorce soured her to long term so doing whatever she was doing with Ryan fit the bill.

Being together, but not together gave them some clarity about life and the choices they've made. It does take the right person to give up the nomadic existence and get answers about those what-if questions. It also bring courage and trust to believe in that thing called love and find a happily ever after that both parties are comfortable with. Susannah Nix brings a unique blend of characters and storylines that make me want to read regardless of what the book may be about. Love that little tidbit at the end about Nate... can't wait for that one!

Amanda Stribling and Chris Brinkley really have these Kings down pat! The emotions and personalities shine through with their gifts of storytelling.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.